Cave of Lakes, Ancient Corinth & Canal, Odontotos Rack Railway Day Tour from Athens or Nafplio, with Great Lunch & Drinks
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Private Tour Locations
Private Tour for 1 - 2 People
On this Private tour of Ancient Corinth, you will immerse yourself in the best area of Greece, the Peloponnese region, which is the home and base of Eudaimonia Experiences.
How about visiting some amazing places that most “tourists” or even locals miss out on? Engage on a private trip for up to 8 people to the Cave of Lakes & Odontotos Rack Railway, but also the archeological site of Ancient Corinth or Mega Spilaio Monastery.
This private tour of Ancient Corinth is ideal because you will explore, walk, breathe, and eat like a local, and you will completely surrender to the beauty of real Greece with this “different” tour.
You will enjoy the “special moments” that are spontaneous and not included in the itinerary! It is a unique tour that almost none of your friends who have visited Greece would know about.
This tour is about people; we have always been good with people!
We skip the obvious places, and we do not compromise the quality of the tour for any reason.
This Ancient Corinth tour is available from both Athens and Nafplio, but it follows different routes.
This tour to the Cave of Lakes and Odontotos Cog Railway from Athens also includes either Ancient Corinth or Mega Spilaio monastery, but of course, you can opt-in for both sites at a small extra cost.
Excellent Greek lunch & drinks are included to highlight this tour!
Key Tour Facts
Duration: 9-10 hours
Language: English
Departure: 8:30 a.m. from Athens or 9:00 a.m. from Nafplio town with an extra fee.
Finally, you can book this Ancient Corinth tour online now. The listed pricing is for 1 or 2 people (not per person). For more pricing details and options, please see the “Pricing” tab. Contact us to get a quote for more than two people.
Private Tour Plan
Driving west of Athens, we will enter the Mythical Peloponnese region from the Corinth Canal and explore our way to our destinations in an elliptical way starting from sea level, up to the beautiful mountains, and back to the coastline. Since we will always be on a different route our trip will be engaging and full of different scenery. Sea views, vineyards, olive groves, mountain villages, underground lakes, rivers, gorges, and back to sea level.
First, a quick stop at the Corinth Canal. It connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnese from the mainland, arguably making the peninsula an island. The builders dug the canal through the Isthmus at sea level; no locks are employed. It is 6.4 kilometers (4 miles) long and only 21.4 meters (70 ft) wide at its base, making it impassable for most modern ships. It now has little economic importance. The next stop, just 10 minutes away, is ancient Corinth.
Ancient Corinth
The archaeological site of Corinth lies on the northern foothills of the Acrocorinth hill (Acropolis of Corinth), around the Archaic Temple of Apollo. Extended excavations have brought to light the Roman Forum, temples, fountains, porticoes, baths, restrooms, and various other monuments. The investigations extended also to the fortress on Acrocorinth, to the south of the organized Archaeological Site, as well as to the north, where prehistoric settlements such as that on the Korakou hill, at St Gerasimos, Gonia, and Gyriza were brought to light. To the south of the organized Archaeological Site excavations revealed the Theatre, the Roman Odeon, the temple of Asclepius and Hygieia (Asclepieion), cemeteries, the Potter’s Quarter (Kerameikos), Roman Baths, the walls of the city, and many more other buildings, such as the Frankish Area and a substantial number of Venetian and Ottoman monuments.
Cave of Lakes
In the rhythm of the music of water small and larger lakes follow one another. The Cave of Lakes, at an altitude of 827 meters, combines in an admirable way, ageless natural beauty, with the remains of habitation and myth. The myth says that Lysippe, Ifinoe, and Ifianassa, the daughters of the king of Tiryns, found refuge in the cave when they were obsessed with madness. The Cave of the Lakes is a rare creation of nature with mysterious galleries and stalactite formations.
In the caves, there are archaeological findings like fossilized human and animal bones, including a hippopotamus. The site is a stone forest full of surprises. It has something exclusively unique that does not exist in other well-known caves.
After a short drive, we arrive at the “historic” town of Kalavrita, where your driver/guide will treat you to some authentic Greek culinary delights in a non-touristy location, observing the locals in their everyday lives.
The town of Kalavryta suffered a holocaust that is considered one of the cruelest atrocities of World War II in Europe.
[A fictional drama inspired by true events, the “Massacre of Kalavryta” committed by invading German troops in December 1943]
Mega Spilaio Monastery (optional)
Built on the wild and steep side of a 120-meter-high rocky hill, there is a unique view from the monastery’s balcony. The monastery’s cells have been built around the entrance of a cave. The monastery was founded at this location in 362 A.D. by two brothers, Symeon and Theodore, because an icon of the Virgin Mary was found deep inside the cave, where there was also a stream. The icon was created by Apostle Luke from mastic and wax. In 840 A.C., the Mega Spileo was burnt down by the Iconomachs, and in 1285, Andronikos Paleologos rebuilt it. From then on, this monastery became one of the richest in the country. The monastery went through another two fires, in 1400 and 1600. In 1934, the monastery went through yet another fire during which invaluable relics were destroyed.
In 1936, the monastery was rebuilt but suffered severe destruction in December 1943 at the hands of German troops. All 22 monks and all other staff members were executed and their bodies were thrown over a cliff. Today, one can admire several important and unique relics kept in a special hall.
Odontotos Rack Railway
About 120 years ago Odontotos rack railway started from the seaside town of Diakopto parallel to the river and climbed to Kalavrita through bridges and tunnels. Since then, the Vouraikos River and Odontotos have gone together.
The Vouraikos Gorge forms a deep and incredibly beautiful gorge. It starts between Helmos and Panachaikos mountains and it reaches the Diakopto seaside town. Vouraikos river springs from the mountains in Kalavrita and exits at the Corinthian Gulf next to the beach of Diakopto. The gorge is rich in flora and fauna and it is part of the network Natura 2000.
The little train incorporated so well into the natural environment that it seemed that it had always been there. The way it was constructed did not put a strain on the ecosystem of the gorge. Using stone and wood from the area the technicians’ work is so perfect that someone may think that nature worked on its own.
Odontotos is not just a train. Vouraikos Gorge and Odontotos rack railway from Diakopto to Kalavrita is a unique attraction in Greece. In an area full of towns, villages, hospitable inhabitants, a unique environment, and the scent of Greek life. To write the history of this place, we need volumes of books but a trip on the train will give you a real taste. Odontotos is waiting for you.
You will board the train in Kalavrita or Zachlorou village and enjoy a great 55-minute experience going down the mountain following an amazing route. At the same time, your driver/guide will be climbing/driving the route to Kalavrita to pick you up. A beautiful drive, in case you prefer it to the train ride!
We start our drive back along the north Peloponnese coastline towards the Corinth Canal and then head to Athens to be dropped off at your base.
PS. The itinerary can also work the other way: Corinth Canal, Ancient Corinth and then Cave of Lakes, Kalavrita mountain town, Odontotos Cog railway! [© Eudaimonia Corinth Odontotos Cave of Lakes Private Tours Athens Greece]
You can include either the ancient Corinth or Mega Spilaio Monastery at the listed price. If you wish to do both, please contact us before or after you book.
- Driver/guide, and transport by private vehicle.
- Nonsmoking vehicle & driver.
- Private tour for 1 to 8 RELATED only people.
- Brand new (2018-2022) vehicles.
- Driver dress code depends on the season of the year, always informal but at the same time professional. Remember that he/she tours & guides you at all times except when you self-explore the sites (unless specifically requested to accompany you there too).
- Entrance fees to the Cave of Lakes if only one person is traveling
- Traditional Greek lunch in a suitable nontouristy location
- One of Ancient Corinth or Mega Spilaio monastery. For both to be included the cost is €55 (for 1-2 people).
- Hotel or cruise ship pickup and drop-off.
- In-car bottled water & tour information booklet.
- Each adult traveler is allowed a maximum of one carry-on bag.
- Optional: Vegetarian lunch can be arranged in most cases. Please let us know in advance.
- Entrance fees/person (Cave of Lakes: adults €9, children €4.50, Odontotos Rack Railway: €9.50/person, ancient Corinth: full: €8, off-season: €4)
- Touristy shopping stops unless required explicitly by yourselves.
- During lunch: Seafood or fish is excluded due to variable pricing.
- Pickup and drop-off in areas outside of Athens or Nafplio (subject to an additional cost)
- A professional guide to the Ancient Corinth site can be arranged
- Excess luggage is not allowed
- Gratuities (optional)
The price for this tour is €675, which is the total for 2 (two) people.
Discounted pricing: We offer alternative payment methods (family rates, solo travelers, small booking payments, pay on the day of the tour, etc.). Please get in touch with us to get the best rate based on your payment method, number of people, and age.
PS. Payments made by PayPal are subject to an additional cost of 5%- 6% (the approximate fee that PayPal charges on all transactions), and payments by AMEX are subject to an additional 2.80%- 3%, which the client must pay to Eudaimonia on the day of the booked tour. There is no extra charge if you pay by any other credit card.
© Eudaimonia Private Tours Athens, Greece
The whole trip, on the Peloponnese region, is based on a different route except the last part on the motorway from Corinth to Athens.
Departure from the Athens area or Nafplio town. Your hotel, cruise ship (Piraeus or Nafplio port), or a pre-arranged meeting point very close to these locations. For other starting locations please contact us.
Depending on the time of year, you can arrange to include any of these add-on experiences to your itinerary:
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- Monastery of Mega Spileo: the oldest/richest Monastery in Greece
Please contact us for details and pricing. Not all add-ons can be included in all tours either because of time limitations (daylight time, closing times of sites) or because of the time of the year, etc. Some add-ons require an earlier starting time than the typical 8:30 a.m. pick-up.
These are reminders and additions to things you have already read in other sections.
All our tours include lunch and drinks, and all multi-day tours include quality accommodation. Professional guide, dinner (on multi-day tours), and all kinds of tickets (sites, trains, boats, etc) are not included. You can read more about What is included & excluded in our tours and why! from our FAQs-not-4-DUMMIES.
☼ To keep our vehicles fresh and comfortable, we ask that guests avoid eating or drinking (except water). Water is always available, and we’ll stop along the way as needed if you need to snack.
☼ Fish and seafood are not included in our budget, as their costs cannot be estimated with sufficient accuracy in advance. Pescatarian guests are invited to enjoy our delicious vegetarian cuisine during the tour. In the evenings, we’ll recommend the best spots for fresh seafood so you can experience it at your leisure. Got allergies, several restrictions, or foods you don’t enjoy? Tell us in advance, and we’ll do our best to please you!
☼ After you book, we will ask for some of the following: any food allergies, a single passport number (required by local authorities), names of all passengers, luggage details, pickup/drop-off locations, and a WhatsApp number, which is very helpful during the tour.
☼ Luggage is typically not included on day tours. In other situations (multi-day tours or transfers), we expect a maximum of one checked bag per person [65x40x25 cm or 26x16x10 inches] and a carry-on or backpack. We do not allow luggage on the vehicle’s seats or in your laps to protect both our passengers and our vehicles. If you have additional luggage, please let us know in advance. We can arrange for a larger vehicle or help you store part of it. We may have to cancel if you ... surprise us!
☼ If you are too tall or heavy, we need to know in advance! If we have advance notice, we can arrange the appropriate vehicle. Please use 225 lbs (105 Kg) as the maximum weight you need to inform us of. If in doubt, please let us know your weight and height before you book, and we'll get back to you. It’s not a personal question, but for your own comfort! We can use a larger vehicle if we have advance notice.
☼ An adult must always accompany children (minimum age is 8 years). Please let us know if anyone gets car sick! Greece is not flat!
☼ Due to uneven surfaces, most tours are not suitable for people with mobility impairments or wheelchair users. We apologize for this, but if the sites don't or can't accommodate people with mobility issues, we can't help.
☼ We are flexible on tour duration, so there is no rush during the tour. We also expect you to be reasonable and respect your driver/tour leader's efforts. Sometimes there are specific restrictions (like not missing the sites' closing times during the off-season or catching a train, boat, etc.) which will "dictate" our itinerary/timing and require your full cooperation!
‘Eudaimonia’ is the trading name of Eudaimonia Private Tours & Experiences Private Company (IKE), a tour provider officially registered under the Greek National Tourism Organization (G.N.T.O.) with number/MH.T.E: 1245Ε70000034300, and Business Registry License Number (EUID): ELGEMI.181573613000.
The ‘client’ is the person or persons who have made a confirmed booking with “Eudaimonia Private Tours & Experiences Private Company“.
CANCELLATION POLICY FOR TOURS, TRANSFERS, AND SERVICES
(a) Cancellation Policy for day tours, half-day tours, and transfers:
☼ Cancellations made more than 60 days before the scheduled tour date will be fully refunded, minus service fees, as outlined below.
☼ Cancellations made between 60 and 30 days before the scheduled tour date will be refunded 75% of the agreed total tour fee minus service fees.
☼ Cancellations made between 30 and 7 days before the scheduled tour date will be refunded 50% of the agreed total tour fee minus service fees.
☼ Cancellations made 7 days or less before the scheduled tour date will incur a 100% charge.
EXPENSES: Additionally to the above but only after the 60-day whole refund period, all of Eudaimonia’s expenses agreed upon through the email exchange of communication concerning or are part of the day or half-day tours or transfers, such as site tickets, train/boat tickets, or any other bookings for the client (wine tasting, restaurants, etc) will be deducted from the amount to be refunded.
SERVICE FEE: Finally, a service fee of 9% (of the total amount agreed) will also be deducted from any refundable amount, including the 60-day full refund case. This corresponds to the time spent on the client’s booking.
(b) Cancellation Policy for multi-day tours (at least one night stay/overnight or more):
☼ Cancellations made more than 90 days before the scheduled tour date will be fully refunded, minus expenses and service fees as outlined below.
☼ Cancellations made between 90 and 60 days before the scheduled tour date will be refunded 75% of the agreed total tour fee minus expenses and service fees.
☼ Cancellations made between 60 and 30 days before the scheduled tour date will be refunded 50% of the agreed total tour fee minus costs and service fees.
☼ Cancellations made 30 days before the scheduled tour date will incur a 100% charge.
EXPENSES: Additionally to the above, but only after the 90-day whole refund period, all of Eudaimonia’s expenses agreed upon through the email exchange of communication concerning or are part of any multi-day tour, such as site tickets, train/boat tickets, hotels booked for the client, or any other bookings (wine tasting, restaurants, etc), will be deducted from any amount to be refunded. This will be approximately 25%-30% of the total tour cost.
SERVICE FEE: Finally, a service fee of 18% of the total amount agreed will also be deducted from any refundable amount, including the 90-day full refund case. This corresponds to the time spent on the client’s booking.
(c) Special client-specific arrangements/agreements & cancellation policy:
There may be client-specific payments & bookings (full or partial) agreed upon through e-mail communication mentioned -for example, as “non-refundable” or different from the main cancellation policy “refund dates”. Then, these client-specific agreements will take precedence over any interpretations of this main cancellation policy. Therefore, it is the specific written (email) agreement between each client and Eudaimonia that can only precede this main cancellation policy -if it is different- and determines the cancellation policy for each client.
(d) Other issues:
Eudaimonia reserves the right to make subtle changes to tour itineraries. Eudaimonia reserves the right to substitute vehicles and/or drivers should they arise. Eudaimonia reserves the right to change or cancel your booking without penalty, except by offering a full refund. Should change and/or cancellation prove necessary we will give you -if possible- reasonable notice & where available, offer you a comparable alternative. If an alternative is unavailable or unacceptable, you will be entitled to a full refund.
Eudaimonia encourages all clients to communicate as early as possible concerning cancellation issues, which could allow the agency to offer a better refund – partial or complete- to a client despite the standard cancellation policy described in this document. This is a decision not to be discussed with or disputed by the client, and will be made entirely by Eudaimonia to serve the client better, if possible.
Eudaimonia itineraries are flexible, and if possible, the requirements of clients will be facilitated. Eudaimonia reserves the right to vary, modify, or cancel any itinerary, either partly or wholly. Itineraries published are sample itineraries only and may be amended without notice. Eudaimonia also reserves the right to use alternative vehicles to those advertised.
Eudaimonia is not responsible for the costs of any other travel arrangements affected due to our cancellations or rescheduling of any tour departure.
Bookings can only be used by the client (s) to whom the booking was initially arranged; no other person may use the booking under any circumstances.
The client will be asked to provide a valid photo and/or passport number for identification, which is required both for our documentation and for local authorities during random police checks.
(e) Force Majeure
It is only at Eudaimonia’s discretion to refund fully, partly, or not at all if a customer cancels under certain conditions, including even “Force Majeure”, medical, etc. Disputing credit card or other means of payment is not permitted. Eudaimonia strongly recommends that the client purchase travel insurance.
Responsibility Clause
Eudaimonia Private Tours, shall not be or become liable or responsible for any loss, injury, or damage to person, property or otherwise in connection with any accommodation, transportation, or other services resulting directly or indirectly, from acts of God, danger, incident to the sea, fire breakdown in machinery or equipment, acts of Government or other authorities, de jure or de facto, wars, thither declared or not, strikes, riots, customs regulations, delays or cancellations, or change of itinerary of schedules.
Baggage is at the owner’s (client’s) risk throughout the tour. Small articles, coats, wraps, cameras, phones, and other hand baggage are entirely under the passenger’s care, who is cautioned about the risk of leaving them in conveyances.
Clients wishing to join a tour or transfer are requested to arrive at the agreed departure point no later than 5 minutes before the scheduled departure time. This applies to all tours and transfers.
The client accepts that certain activities and aspects of Eudaimonia tours are weather-dependent and that under no circumstances can Eudaimonia be held responsible for weather conditions. The client will be informed by email of any potential weather issues and will be asked to decide, in agreement with Eudaimonia, whether to proceed with the tour. In this case, if the tour is completed or attempted, the client will not claim a refund. Rain or even snow is not considered a reason to cancel. Strikes can be grounds for cancellation if they really prevent the tour’s route. Windy weather and port authorities not allowing a boat to run are also reasons to cancel a day tour (but only in the case of a day tour), which is 100% dependent on the boat. A multi-day tour that includes a boat tour will not result in the cancellation of the whole tour, but only in an adjustment or an alternative option to replace the boat tour.
Passport Number
A valid passport must be carried by at least one client when traveling with us. This should be the lead traveler or the person who made the booking/communication, or payment.
Special Requirements and Conditions
At the time of booking, it is the customer’s responsibility to advise us of any special requests and circumstances, such as the need for a child car seat, mobility requirements, passengers who are much taller or heavier than average, food issues, car/boat sickness, excess luggage, etc. Then, we will notify the client in advance if we can accommodate their needs (larger vehicle, alternative options, etc.) and any possible extra costs.
Luggage is not allowed inside the vehicle; it must be stored in the trunk. Even backpacks need to be in the trunk, and it is the passengers’ responsibility to hold them on their laps and avoid scratches to the vehicle’s interior. We ask passengers to “keep their feet on the car’s mats” and not make a mess of the interior, which is kept in excellent condition, as you will see at the start of the tour.
For safety and a comfortable experience, we ask that you let us know in advance the approximate weights/heights of all passengers, as well as the corresponding luggage. This information is used only for vehicle allocation and will remain confidential. Failing to let us know can be grounds for canceling a tour, even when we meet.
Client Behavior
Eudaimonia reserves the right to terminate the transfer if a client’s behavior or conduct is disruptive towards the driver or any of our service providers (hotels, restaurants, etc).
Our drivers/tour leaders are carefully selected individuals who are genuinely polite and well educated. We expect you to treat them with respect. They will be there for you even after their typical 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but please do not take advantage of our “under-promising but over-delivering” attitude. They need their personal time and rest, plus some reporting to us and planning for the following days.
Passengers are forbidden to consume food or any drinks (except water) in our vehicles. Any costs incurred by you or your party due to damages on a tour or transfer must be paid by you (the passenger) or your party at your destination, and we or the supplier will not be liable for these costs.
Eudaimonia operates a strict no-smoking policy on all its vehicles and tours.
Liability
Eudaimonia has no liability for any tour or transfer arrangements, and in particular, for any illness, personal injury, death, or loss of any kind, unless caused by our negligence. Any claim for damages for injury, illness, or death arising from your use of the transfer services must be brought against the operator of the transfer services and will be under the jurisdiction of Greek Law. Eudaimonia operates under a Civil Liability insurance policy as required by Greek Law.
Validity & Disputes
Any disputes will be resolved by the Greek legal system and its laws without the need for any arbitration. If a client is unsuccessful in any legal action instituted against us, the client agrees to pay all our costs, including, but not limited to, legal fees.
The Client agrees to all the above when booking any of Eudaimonia’s tours, transfers, or services.
As of December 1st, 2025
